FAQs

1. What makes Mom2Mom Africa unique?Mom2Mom Africa is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the education needs of women and children in Tanzania. We are run by a group of dedicated Canadian volunteers. We also have partners on the ground in Tanzania, working diligently to monitor the effectiveness of our program, and reporting back to the Director of Mom2Mom Africa on a weekly, if not daily, basis. We value the input of our Tanzanian partners in planning future initiatives and programs within Mom2Mom Africa. We truly believe that our success is contingent on these strong partnerships.2. Can I dictate where my donated funds are spent within the organization?We do have several initiatives ongoing at any given time. As such, when you donate to Mom2Mom Africa, you can specify where you would like your donated funds to be allocated. 3. What percentage of donations are used to cover administrative costs?All (100%) of the money contributed through the Urafiki Program to support your student goes directly to your student in Arusha. We hold a number of fundraisers throughout the year where the vast majority of the funds go back to the students in Arusha to help pay for school supplies, additional clothing, medical needs and other needs that come up for our students. Our administrative costs are very low as our Board of Directors, committee leads and members are all volunteers. Any administrative costs are nominal and are to cover off costs incurred by our Tanzanian Partners, such as taxi fees, banking fees and internet charges (essential for proper communication), as well as Canadian insurance and money transfer fees. 4. Will I be issued a charitable tax receipt?Mom2Mom Africa is NOT a registered charity, but rather an official Canadian Not-for-Profit Organization. You can receive receipts for any donated funds, however, these can not be used as charitable tax receipts. In order to keep the organization grassroots, we have opted not to become a registered charity.5. What can I expect as a member of the Urafiki Program?Sponsoring a child can be a very rewarding experience. You will receive at a minimum, three electronic updates each year including report cards, pictures and a letter/drawing from the student you support. Unfortunately, due to the high costs of mailing from Tanzania to Canada, students will not mail letters to you. 6. What items should I mail to the students in Tanzania?Regardless of what you mail, always make sure you mail via AIRMAIL. Surface mail can take three to six months before packages arrive in Tanzania. The students love to receive letters from you and pictures of your family. They want to learn about you just as much as you want to learn about them. If you opt to send packages, the following items are often needed and appreciated. You will notice in the pictures that the children are often wearing warmer clothes. Although it is very hot, the children are generally wearing pants, long-sleeved shirts and sweaters.- clothes (long sleeved shirts, hoodies, knee length skirts, pants, etc.)

-underwear & socks and even bras (if your student is 12 years or older)Canada Post typically charges approximately $22 for packages under 0.5 kg, and $44 for packages under 1 kg. It can take up to 3 months to arrive in Tanzania. It is best to send smaller packages more often rather than one large package. We are always investigating better shipping options and will keep you informed of any new information we may have regarding shipping. Don’t forget your student’s birthday!7. How can I get more involved in Mom2Mom Africa?We are always seeking additional help. Lend your talents! Contact us if you are interested in learning how you can become more involved. 8. Can my children become more involved in Mom2Mom Africa?Absolutely! That is one of the fundamental goals of the Mom2Mom Africa organization. We want to inspire the younger generation to be as passionate about Mom2Mom Africa as we are. They are the future of the organization. As such, we have started the Watoto Program, which is essentially a committee of Urafiki Program children who want to have a voice in all of our programming and initiatives. Please contact us if your child is interested in joining this wonderful program and check out our upcoming events!